Main Relationship Identified in the sample : Older Brother - Younger Brother
From the short story “How Chang Kuo Lau Obtained A Donkey”, the main relationship is older brother-younger brother. Zhang Nan is the name of older brother and younger brother Zhang Guola. They were happy with each other, but Zhang Nan’s wife found fault with everything that Zhang Guola did. Thus, the two brothers’ relationship got terrible resulting in moving of Zhang Guola.
Other relationship identified in the sample
Husband-Wife Relationship: Zhang Nan and anonymous Wife.
In this story, Zhang Nan and his wife work together to make life of Zhang Guola miserable because of jealousy.
Friend-Friend Relationship: Zhang Guola and the Black Rabbit, Wolf
In this story, Zhang Guola and rabbit and wolf help each other.
Comparison between identified sample and Confucian ideals for relationships
Similarities: Friend-Friend Relationship Confucius said, "One who can practice five things wherever he may be is a man of humanity." Tzu-chang asked what the five -are. Confucius said, "Earnestness, liberality, truthfulness, diligence, and generosity. If one is earnest, one will not be treated with disrespect. If one is liberal, one will win the hearts of all. If one is truthful, one will be trusted. If one is diligent, one will be successful. And if one is generous, one will be able to enjoy the service of others." (17:6) Big black Rabbit stole Zhang Guola’s sweet potatoes and Zhang Guola chased it to its house. At Rabbit’s house, Rabbit admitted that that it has been a thief and Zhang Guola trusted him after this event. Confucius said that if one is truthful, one will gain trust from others. Rabbit was truthful and it gained the trust of Zhang Guola. In addition, Zhang Guola is diligent worker, thus he was able to eat sweet potatoes without worries.
Differences: Older Brother-Younger Brother Relationship Confucius said, "If you set your mind on humanity, you will be free from evil." (4:4) Even though Zhang Nan did not set his mind away from humanity, he wasn’t free from evil. When he married his wife, evil things happened to his family and brother, eventually his brother moves. Confucius said, "Earnestness, liberality, truthfulness, diligence, and generosity. If one is earnest, one will not be treated with disrespect. If one is liberal, one will win the hearts of all. If one is truthful, one will be trusted. If one is diligent, one will be successful. And if one is generous, one will be able to enjoy the service of others." (17:6) Although Zhang Guola is generous enough to be a friend with thief and fearless wolf, he wasn’t able to enjoy the service of others but he lost his friend because of his brother’s jealousy.
How Chang Kuo Lau Obtained A Donkey”
: Older Brother - Younger Brother
- Husband-Wife Relationship: Zhang Nan and anonymous Wife.
In this story, Zhang Nan and his wife work together to make life of Zhang Guola miserable because of jealousy.- Friend-Friend Relationship: Zhang Guola and the Black Rabbit, Wolf
In this story, Zhang Guola and rabbit and wolf help each other.Friend-Friend Relationship
Confucius said, "One who can practice five things wherever he may be is a man of humanity." Tzu-chang asked what the five -are. Confucius said, "Earnestness, liberality, truthfulness, diligence, and generosity. If one is earnest, one will not be treated with disrespect. If one is liberal, one will win the hearts of all. If one is truthful, one will be trusted. If one is diligent, one will be successful. And if one is generous, one will be able to enjoy the service of others." (17:6) Big black Rabbit stole Zhang Guola’s sweet potatoes and Zhang Guola chased it to its house. At Rabbit’s house, Rabbit admitted that that it has been a thief and Zhang Guola trusted him after this event. Confucius said that if one is truthful, one will gain trust from others. Rabbit was truthful and it gained the trust of Zhang Guola. In addition, Zhang Guola is diligent worker, thus he was able to eat sweet potatoes without worries.
Differences:
Older Brother-Younger Brother Relationship
Confucius said, "If you set your mind on humanity, you will be free from evil." (4:4) Even though Zhang Nan did not set his mind away from humanity, he wasn’t free from evil. When he married his wife, evil things happened to his family and brother, eventually his brother moves.
Confucius said, "Earnestness, liberality, truthfulness, diligence, and generosity. If one is earnest, one will not be treated with disrespect. If one is liberal, one will win the hearts of all. If one is truthful, one will be trusted. If one is diligent, one will be successful. And if one is generous, one will be able to enjoy the service of others." (17:6) Although Zhang Guola is generous enough to be a friend with thief and fearless wolf, he wasn’t able to enjoy the service of others but he lost his friend because of his brother’s jealousy.
Works Cited
Greenberg, Hazel Sara. ""How Chang Kuo Lau Obtained A Donkey"" Globaled. 1997. Web. 09 Sept. 2010. <http://www.globaled.org/chinaproject/confucian/reading4.html>.